Rationale for molecular markers of prostate cancer

What we presently know about the disease entity known as prostate cancer has grown tremendously since the first documented case by Langstaff in 1815.1 Accumulation of knowledge since the mid-1980s has risen logarithmically, bolstered by the advancement of the molecular sciences. Experts in cancer biology and oncology recognize that molecular makers will play a major role not only in scientific investigations on prostate cancer but also in the clinical aspects of diagnosis, prognosis, therapeutics, and post-therapeutic monitoring.2 The continuous growth and interest in the study of pertinent biomarkers of disease are reflected in the translational research initiatives emphasizing the need to “bridge the gap” between the basic science discoveries and clinical utility of the biomarkers ultimately benefiting the patients.3 It is the purpose of this chapter to provide evidence that molecular markers have promising potential to impact upon the changing face of prostate cancer. Comprehensive details on the biology and current performance of these molecular markers are beyond the scope of this chapter and will be discussed elsewhere.

Duke Scholars

Author Judd Wendell Moul Urology